(GED Social Studies/U.S. History; lesson 1) – Exploration, Colonialism, And The American Revolution

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EXPLORATION, COLONIALISM, AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

In the late 1400s, explorers from Europe searched for a sea route to Asia so they could trade for Asian gold and spices. They traveled around the tip of Africa. However, in 1492 Christopher Columbus convinced Spain to finance a trip west, across the Atlantic Ocean. When he reached land, he thought he has found India and called the inhabitants Indians. Later explorers realized that they have found a new world, and many European nations set out to establish colonies there. Many Native Americans loss their life as a result of the exploration, they were enslaved, forced out of their land, killed or died from disease.

  • Columbus and his crew landed in the West Indies, on an island that the natives called Guanahani and he named San Salvador, on October 12, 1492. Architect of the Capitol
  • Source; https://www.americanheritage.com/everything-you-need-know-about-columbus

After some years the colonies grew rapidly in the early 1700s. When England defeated France in the French and Indian war (1754-1763), England acquired many of France’s American colonies. It also sought to recover economically from the debts caused by the costly war. New British taxes and policies troubled the colonists; however, it was not until 1775 that a war for independence seemed inevitable. After a series of skirmishes, the continental congress assigned George Washington to lead the continental army and ordered publication of the declaration of independence on July 4, 1776.         

Americans won its independence in 1783 despite the superiority of the well trained British forces. The American Revolution lasted until the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781. After the revolution, the new nation at first formed a weak government through the articles of confederation which help them in gaining local control. As at that time, many colonial leaders recognized the need for a centralized government (the principles of this government were established in the US Constitution), the new nation later ratified the constitution in 1788, to counter the fear of an overly powerful government. And some of the amendments are the bill of rights and they were promised freedom such as freedom of speech and assembly.

QUESTIONS

  1. What year did Christopher Columbus convince Spain to sponsor is trip to west across Atlantic Ocean?

A. 1400s

B. 1783

C. 1600s

D. 1492

Ans= D

2. What year did France and England war against each other?

A. 1500s

B. 1607-1620

C. 1754-1763

D. 1781-1783

Ans= C

3. What actually troubled the colonist?

A. The bully nature of the colonist

B. Starvation

C. Taxes and policies

D. War

Ans= C

4. The American Revolution lasted still the British surrounded in?

A. Yorktown

B. England

C. Indian

D. France

Ans= A

5. One amendment to the constitution is?

A. Bills of right

B. Land use

C. Immigrate laws

D. Taxes

Ans= A